Nokia cans free music download service

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 18 January 2011 06:57

Your IT - Entertainment

Nokia has canned its free music download service, Ovi Music Unlimited, in 27 countries.

Writing on the company's blog a spokesman identified only as Ian said Nokia had stopped selling subscriptions to its Ovi Music Unlimited service (branded 'Comes With Music' at its launch in 2008) in some countries, but the service would continued in a number of others.

The posting was made after Reuters reported closure of the service, saying: "The service has proved to be a disappointment and lacked operator support. Reasons behind the lacklustre performance include use of older supporting handsets for the product at its launch and the use of DRM software that tied downloaded music to the device. The service was also said to be difficult to explain to customers in a simple marketing campaign."

The Nokia spokesman said the move was "part of preparations to deliver new, innovative music experiences as part of Ovi during 2011." He claimed the move was "in response to customer feedback and promises to deliver better, more locally relevant experiences," adding: "The new deals and other arrangements necessary for this to happen meant that old ones needed to be ended. We'll release more details on these new services as they are announced."

In a video posted on Nokia's web site, Adam Mirabella, global director of Ovi Music Services for Nokia, said the service had been launched in 38 countries but "in some it was not connecting with customers the way we wanted to."

He added: "The key markets we have really made a difference are India and China those markets did not have strong music offerings. There will be select other countries where we will make slight nuances to the offering."

Overall he said: "We have made some big advances for the Ovi brand over the last few months and Ovi is the one entry way into all the services we offer'¦applications, maps and music. I think music will continue to play a part. We just have to have that make sense country by country."

According to the Nokia spokesman, "Existing customers will have uninterrupted access to the music library until their subscriptions finish, will be able to keep their music downloads forever, and are still able to buy DRM free songs through the huge catalogue on the Ovi Music Store."

Nokia will continue to offer 12-month subscriptions in China and India and six-month subscriptions in Brazil, Turkey and South Africa. "There will be no disruption to the service for these customers, nor for anyone elsewhere in the world who has an existing subscription, nor for anyone who purchases an Ovi Music Unlimited device from existing stocks," the spokesman said.

Comes with Music was launched first in the UK in September 2008 and in Australia in early 2009.